Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1887-12-01
A GERMAN PROTESTS

Against the Liquor Attitude of the Ger
man American Press.
We speak now rs German to Ger
mans. and ask the serious and simple
question: Does the German daily press
have decent regard for the moral dis
position of the German-Americ, IN peo-
pie? One does not demand of it that
it shall transform itself into religious
press. But though it may not seek the
one priceless pearl, it should at least
strive for good pearls. 1t should take
an honest, manly, and sympathetic
stand upon all questions which init
mately concern the protection of public
morals, the progress of virtue and the
increase of the conditions of home hap
piness and the general welfare. But
with sorrow we see that instead of
leading and strengthening what is for
the good and elevation of the people,
the German press too often submits
sively bows to the DEGREES of pernicious
public feeling, and is content to swim
with the stream. no matter how severely
public morals may suffer, and not car
ing whether the last vestige of respect
for the laws of God and man shall dis
appear.
In regard to two most important
matters, this difference of the German
American press is particular shown
in regard to the Sunday question and
other drink question. The time is past
when people may dismiss these ques-
tons by sneeringly ridiculing them as
outgrowths of native puritanism. They
have become great world questions;
and one can not but feel the deepest
indignation at seeing men who by OBJ
servation must be aware of the benefits
and blessing bestowed by the American
Sabbath lift their wicked hands against
it, and attempt to convert it into a
day of drunkenness and rioting.
And must not every German who
has in his heart spark of patriotism
and noble emotion feel his blood boil
within him when he hears the German
press of America, with almost unani-
nous voice, declaring to ''Germandom"
that in spite of the measureless devasta-
tons wrought by the liquor traffic, the
German must seek his browning glory
in the fight against the temperance
issue. and must find his worthiest COM
patriots in the beer-breweries and the
liquor saloons!
Have then these pretended leaders
of German spirit, German thought,
German decency and German public
virtue no eye for the frightful. impetu-
Gus spread and growing might of this
unbridled and merciless traffic of hell?
Have they no thought for the disgrace
that they bring upon the German name
by praising and defending the liberty
to drink as the highest and most pre-
cious of all the liberties that the Ger
mans enjoy? Have the Germans moth
ing else to save but the beer glass?
Shall the German draw his sword only
for the liquor-saloon and never for its
poor victims?
Why is this cold, heartless indiffer-
ence toward the most powerful and
hideous vice that holds unhappy hui
mainly in bonds? Why does the Ger
man press discover in every earnest
endeavor to check the drink evil IA
natical threat against personal lib
erty?" Why are the United Germans
of this country classed as friends and
protectors of the saloon? Why may
not and can not a German with his
whole heart approve of and assist the
efforts to root out this business that is
so terrible foe to humanity? We
know that no habit works so insidious-
ly as the drink habit; that no desire is
SO easily awakened or so powerfully
and roots itself as the desire for alco-
hol; that there is no other means on
earth by which SO rapidly and certain
ly all nobler desires are made to perish,
the will is enfeebled. the health is
ruined, and domestic happiness, busi-
ness and responsibility are destroyed,
rs by the surrender to the drink appe-
tite. And yet men gaze with cold looks
and Indifferent hearts while the liquor
saloons prosecute their demoralizing
and murderous business from early
morning until late at night, not on
working-days only, but also through
che whole blessed. livelong Sabbath
day; while one brewery after anotheris